2008 Automotive News PACE Awards Are Presented to Twelve Suppliers for Outstanding Innovations

DETROIT, April 15 -- Twelve automotive suppliers won 2008 Automotive News PACE Awards for innovation during a black tie ceremony last night at the Max M. Fisher Music Center in Detroit, Mich. Three automotive manufacturers were also honored during the program with Automotive News PACE Innovation Partnership Awards.

The 14th annual awards program for innovation in the automotive supply chain was open to suppliers that contribute products, processes, capital equipment, information technology or services directly to the manufacture of cars or trucks worldwide. The prestigious PACE (Premier Automotive Suppliers' Contribution to Excellence) Award is presented by Automotive News, Microsoft, SAP and Transportation Research Center Inc. (TRC Inc.). Additional sponsors are Ernst & Young, Sprint, the Original Equipment Suppliers Association and WCSX (94.7FM).

Selected from among 23 finalists, the 2008 PACE Award winners - by category - are:

Product - Innovations in new products or components or systems that have significant market impact and act as "game changers" in the automotive industry:

  --  Cummins Inc., Columbus, Ind. - Cummins 6.7-liter Turbo Diesel
  --  Dow Automotive, Auburn Hills, Mich. - IMPAXX Energy Absorbing Foam
  --  Eaton Corporation, Marshall, Mich. - CRUTONITE Valve Alloy
  --  Gentex Corporation, Zeeland, Mich. - Rear Camera Display (RCD) Mirror
  --  Magneti Marelli Sistemas Automotivos Industria & Comercio Ltda.,
      Hortolandia, Brazil - TETRAFUEL System for use with gasoline, ethanol
      or compressed natural gas.
  --  Xanavi Informatics Corporation and Sony Corporation, Zama, Japan -
      Around View Monitor AVM

Product-Europe - As above, but for innovations that are developed and first commercialized in Europe:

  --  BorgWarner Turbo & Emissions Systems, Kirchheimbolanden, Germany and
      Auburn Hills, Mich. - Turbocharger with R2S(R) Regulated Two-Stage
      Technology
  --  Continental, Pisa Italy and Auburn Hills, Mich. - Piezo Direct
      Injection System for Gasoline Applications
  --  Valeo Interior Controls, Bietigheim, Germany and Troy, Mich. - Park 4U
      Semi-Automatic Parallel Parking

Manufacturing Process & Capital Equipment - Innovations involving game-changing processes (manufacturing or business) or innovative capital equipment that support the automotive supply chain or manufacturing processes.

  --  PPG Industries, Inc., Troy, Mich. - Green Logic Paint Detackification
      Process
  --  Webasto AG, Stockdorf, Germany - Low Pressure Injection-Compression
      Process for Panoramic Polycarbonate Roof Module

Information Technology & Services - Innovations in the design and implementation of information systems solutions that enable companies to improve operational performance or for services and delivery of services:

  --  Delphi Corporation and Sirius Satellite Radio, Kokomo, Ind. - Sirius
      Backseat TV

The Automotive News PACE Awards are a "chance to celebrate outstanding achievement during a time of unprecedented challenge," said Keith Crain, Automotive News publisher and editor-in-chief, during the ceremony, noting that the program salutes the "inspiration and the optimism these innovations create for the future of this resilient industry."

Automotive manufacturers receiving Automotive News PACE Innovation Partnership Awards during last evening's ceremonies were:

  --  Chrysler LLC for its partnership on CamInCam(R) with MAHLE;
  --  Honda for its partnership on a Motorcycle Airbag System with Takata
      Corporation; and
  --  Nissan for its partnership on the Around View Monitor with Xanavi
      Informatics Corporation and Sony Corporation.

Innovation Partnership Award winners were selected by Automotive News PACE Award judges from the pool of 2008 finalists.

PACE Award winners were chosen following a thorough review of written submissions from each supplier and site visits by a panel of judges, drawn from among industry, academic and business leaders.

Profiles of each PACE Award winner's product, process and/or service is available by visiting Automotive News at www.automotivenews.com .